## Witham Baptist Church
## Serving Christ and Our Community
## Trustees Annual Report 2024-2025
## **Trustees**
The Church currently has three Trustees: Rev’d. Michael R Child (Chairman); Mrs Ann M Coleman (Secretary); Philip J West (Treasurer).
The Trustees met once during the year.
## **Membership**
As at end of March we had 9 members as we had the privilege of welcoming 4 new members. We have also been greatly encouraged that the regular weekly congregation continues growing numerically.
## **The Diaconate**
The Church is served by a Diaconate of two: Ann Coleman and Philip West.
## **Baptismal Service**
There were no Believers’ Baptisms during the year, but one is planned, our first in 15 years, during April 2025
## **Giving**
Members and Friends are still giving sacrificially and generously to the work of the Church. The Building Fund is continuing to grow.
The Church supports the ministry of Leslie and Elizabeth Message (Belgium); we were delighted that they join us for Sunday Services and Wednesday Prayer Meetings via Zoom.
During the period April 2024 to March 2025 the Church gave a donation to the Leprosy Mission. The Harvest Thanksgiving produce and products were given to the Witham Food Bank and monetary donations to Mill Grove Centre, South Woodford.
The Church also donated shoe boxes this year for the Samaritan’s Purse “Operational Christmas Child” appeal.
The Carols by Candlelight Service offering was given to Farleigh Hospice.
## **Services and Auxiliaries**
We held weekly Sunday Services for Worship, Prayer and Preaching at the Royal British Legion Hall and mid-week Prayer Meetings each Wednesday via Zoom.
Others join our Sunday Services and Mid-week Meetings via Zoom.
We joined our friends at Maldon Baptist Church for a Christmas Service and held a Carols by Candlelight Service on Sunday 15[th] December 2024 at the Royal British Legion Hall at which an offering was taken for Farleigh Hospice.
Our Pastor continues as Honorary Chaplain to the Royal Air Forces Association and serves the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (Air Training Corps) as Essex Wing Chaplain and Chaplain 295 (Witham & Rivenhall) Squadron.
## **Church Premises**
The Trustees are still actively seeking a suitable site or premises for Sunday Services and to develop the Church’s ministry.
## **Baptist Union of Great Britain**
Witham Baptist Church is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
## **Eastern Baptist Association**
Witham Baptist Church is also affiliated to the Eastern Baptist Association.
## **Churches Together in Witham and District**
We continue to be part of Churches Together in Witham and District. There were less United activities, but we participated in the open-air Witham Town carol Service.
## **Harvest**
Harvest Thanksgiving was held on Sunday 29[th] September 2024 and the produce donated to the Witham Food Bank and monetary offering to Mill Grove Centre, South Woodford, a Christian charity working with children and deprived families in South Woodford.
## **Special Services**
The Church celebrated its 27[th] Anniversary on Sunday 3[rd] December 2024.
The Annual Carols by Candlelight Service was on Sunday 15[th] December 2024. and an offering was taken for the Farleigh Hospice. A short Family Service was also held on Christmas Day.
We are thankful to God for His loving faithfulness to us throughout a difficult and challenging year and for providing for our needs and we trust Him for all that is to come as we seek further ways of serving our community.
.
Revd Michael R Child Pastor and Chairman of the Trustees
## **WITHAM BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **Accounts for the Year to 31 March 2025**
## **Receipts and Payments Account (General Purposes Fund)**
|**Income Receipts**
Donations
Weekly Offerings
L & E Message
Leprosy Mission
D & A Boyle
Millgrove
BRE Ukraine
Farleigh Hospice
Preacher’s Fees Gifted Back
Other
Trading Activities
Subscriptions and Tuck Sales
Investment Income
Bank and Building Society Interest
Income Tax Rebate
Total Receipts
**Direct Charitable Expenditure**
Hire of Premises
Minister's Stipend and NI
Minister's Council Tax
Preacher's Expenses
**Other Expenditure**
Advertising
Churches Together in Witham
Baptist Union Subscription
Millgrove
L & E Message
Data Protection
D & A Boyle
P C Help
Farleigh Hospice
CCL Licence
Insurance
The Leprosy Mission
Website Costs
Purchase of Bibles
Transfer Building Fund
Sundry Expenses
**Total Payments**
**Net Receipts/(Payments) for the Year**
Cash and Bank balances at 31 March 2024
**Cash and Bank balances at 31 March 2025**|
|£
23922
2565
100
-
35
-
170
171
402
27365
-
88
27453
32803
2910
18097
3113
428
24548
324
40
28
35
2565
40
-
72
170
148
445
100
-
216
-
410
29141|£
3662
4415
8077|
|**2024**
21481
2390
97
-
75
-
160
174
-
-
-
24377
28710
1970
17578
2933
477
22958
324
-
26
-
2390
40
-
53
160
98
428
80
-
-
-
312
3911
26869
1841
2574
4415|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||
|||
||
|||||||
## **WITHAM BAPTIST CHURCH**
## **Accounts for the Year to 31 March 2025 Receipts and Payments Account (Building Fund)**
|**Income Receipts**
Donations
In Memory Of
Other
Sundry
Sundry
Trading Activities
Buy a Brick
Knitting
Sundry Sales
Investment Income
Bank and Building Society Interest
Total Receipts
Other Expenditure
Total Payments
**Net Receipts for the Year**
Building Fund Balance at 31 March 2024
**Building Fund Balance at 31 March 2025**|**£**
260
50
-
-
310
16
6596
6922
-
-
6922|**£**
-
-
147592
154514|
|
|---|---|---|---|
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Witham Baptist Church**
We report on the accounts of the Church for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) does not apply. It is our responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145 (5)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to our attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:
- (1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- .
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
- . to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
RONALD W CHIVERS & CO ACCOUNTANTS
61 Manor Street Braintree Essex CM7 3HP
13 November 2025
Ronald W Chivers & Co is the trading name of Ronald W Chivers & Co Ltd, company no. 11919594 registered in England and Wales, registered office address as above.